Chapter 30

a crimson annihilation
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​I always thought I was different.

Even when unknowingly posing as a human, I never craved for relationships. During local and out of town trips for school activities, I had to get permission from Roesia and Baldric not because I wanted to spend time with my classmates, but because of the new places I would get to explore.

My distant behavior toward humans must be because I am an undead. We were wired to be bereft of feelings that could make us vulnerable, and forming an emotional connection with someone was regarded as a sign of weakness, especially for undead who were meant to lead their respective clans.

I thought I had already discarded my humanity upon awakening, but ironically, I developed a strong personal attachment to someone when I learned that I was a vampire.

Zaria was the anchor to my humane emotions because she reminded me of what I once was. The raging waves of cruelty and apathy swept me away after losing her, but I no longer cared.

I let the monstrosity consume me.

A strong pressure emanated from me that made the waves much rougher. The ship rocked aggressively, but it did not affect my movement.

My eyes felt burning as crimson marks lined them. Ancient runes ran along my face down to my arms. Three crimson lines formed around my wrists. Gradient of dark red and black covered my hands.

My blood exploded around me as I screamed in rage, and I felt a surge of power within me.

“How in the world—”

“E-Elder Vize, w-what is that…”

“M-monster—!”

A portion of the blood surrounding me transformed into a crimson cape that looked like my ruska, but it was moving according to my wishes. It attached itself on me and acted like my shield. The remaining blood hovered around me like pellets, waiting for my command.

The stallions pranced restlessly as I walked toward the ship’s bow, while the magi were anxiously looking at their leader.

“The Stryzyga clan has power over blood, and I had seen Zemus using it, but you…what exactly are you—”

The warlock paused for a second as a sphere of light appeared right beside him. A look of terror appeared on his face, as if the light had told him something bad.

“Impossible…”

Panic was visible on their faces. The warlock called Vize started spouting orders, and the magi obliged. They began chanting spells as they performed complex hand seals.

The sea had become illuminated once again, but with a flick of my fingers, blood erupted from their wrists as their hands got severed. The holy light they were casting underneath instantly disappeared, much to their horror.

Zaria lost her hands and arms after breaking the holy magic that they cast on me. It was only apt for them to experience the same thing.

I stared at the nearest magi, and he started screaming in terror. Dark liquid trickled from his eyes, nose, and mouth. Several patches of almost-purple discoloration appeared on his skin.

“H-help m-me…” he pleaded as he desperately reached for his comrades, but they could only look at him with horrified expressions on their faces.

“W-what did you—” Vise asked but the magus’ body exploded before he could finish his question.

They fell into panic as they witnessed one of them became a fountain of blood. Some stallions even started galloping away. Their haughty demeanor disappeared without a trace, and they must have realized the consequences of what they had done.

The dead magus’ blood moved toward my direction and hovered around me.

“You said Vrivarya has become a threat to the humankind because we were holding two thousand human hostages, yet you killed the only Stryzyga who cares greatly about them,” I said. “You said you care little about vampiric disputes, yet you killed a royal blood.”

Vize's face remained impassive, but I could see the terror in his eyes. He feared for his life because it was mine to spare.

“You must be proud that you have eliminated one of us, but you won’t be able to celebrate it.”

Another magus exploded as I waved my hand, creating more chaos among them.

“Because I will make it your reality. Vrivarya will be a threat to the magi, and I will not stop until this rage wane.”

“Escape! Now!” Vize ordered and the remaining magi scampered away with their stallions.

Without hands, they struggled at controlling the reins, but some of them cast another protective barrier around them to keep them from falling.

“You won’t get away,” I murmured. “You must pay for your sins.”

The blood hovering around me changed into crimson blades, and I willed them to fly above them.

“To the magi and undead watching or listening to this, let this be your reminder,” I said upon seeing orbs of lights and bats around. “It will be raining blood in your lands soon, and this is just the opening act.”

As I moved my hand down, thousand blades of blood rained down on them and pierced every part of their bodies. Screams of pain and terror echoed through the Mirovian Sea. The magi fell into the water and the sea had turned deep crimson.

My gaze drifted to the island and redirected the remaining blades in that direction.

If it was true that Hanaia conspired with the magi of Romuna to eliminate Zaria and I, then she deserved to suffer, too.

“You won’t leave this place unscathed,” I whispered to myself as I remembered her smile after the magi arrived earlier.

“Heed my command,” I said, and the blood of the fallen magi emerged from the sea.

They moved above the island and transformed into blades, too.

“Your Highness…”

“The island is not—”

“Silence,” I ordered as both Kei and Sigrid approached me.

I don’t care about the truce and oaths any longer. Everything happened because of them. Because they couldn’t accept the fact that Vrivarya had become stronger than them.

And because of their insecurity and greed, I lost the person I treasured the most.

My rage reached its peak after remembering Zaria’s kindness to me…and realizing I would never achieve my dream of seeing her happy. And that I would never see her again.

“Blood for blood,” I murmured as the blades fell from the sky like a downpour.

I unleashed my rage and let more blood rained down on Katur as well as the magi that were struggling to survive in the water until the sky and the sea had turned crimson.

“More…more…every single one of you shall die…”

I let out a devious laugh as I watched the mayhem before me and only snapped out of it after hearing Kei and Sigrid’s voices.

“Y-Your Highness…please stop…” Sigrid pleaded while covered with blood.

Kei had a hole in his chest but still managed a smile. “Let’s…go home…Your Highness…”

The power churning inside me instantly disappeared and my knees instantly collapsed.

I heard the concerned and horrified screams of my retainers, but they sounded distant. There was no remaining strength in my body. My vision blurred.

The last thing I saw was the island of Katur, and a strange feeling filled my chest.

​Ironically, blood had been spilled in the land of peace. And this was just the beginning of a merciless bloodshed. 

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